Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok I have a small collection of snakes at the moment and was wondering if it would be safe to use human heatpads that you can buy at walmart/target etc. Seeing how I do not have a rack at the moment, so heat tape is out. so any opinions on using these pads?
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---------------I Fear two things in life.......My God and My WIFE!

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I've used them for years. It's safe. You just have to be careful. Make sure the pad isn't kinked in any way, and make sure nothing is actually sitting on the pad. I normally put 2 empty CD cases under each end of whatever tank I have my heat pads under. The tanks are then lifted up off the pad, and the pad sits on the surface below it.
I found when I was just getting into snakes that it was cheaper for me to use human heat pads than anything else. I bought a couple when they were on sale for $9 each, and they're big enough to use with a 40 breeder. I went with them because I have cages in multiple rooms. There's no way I could hook them all up to the same thermostat/rheostat, so I would've had to get multiple therm/rheostats, and wire them all seperately.

For a small collection, or a collection of small animals spread out, I think they're a great idea.

Personally, I would only use them if I had to. You can pick up heat pads at most pet shops. Then you can make a rheostate and plug them into it to regulate the temps.

If you do use human heating pad, make sure that the one you get doesn't have a automatic shutoff on it. Many on the shelf today have that. I guess you could always plug it into a rheostate as well.
Rob
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"I reject your reality and substitute my own" Adam Savage
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I had to buy an extra human heat pad when I had to bring all my snakes with me on a roadtrip (during the weekend of the storm that cut power in WNY in October)... and I was really disappointed to see how many heat pads have an auto shutoff now. I wound up getting one that had "2 hour shutoff or stay on setting" ... but this thing cannot be used with a thermostat because it's digital, and if you cut the power to it, it switches off by default.

I know, they're safety features... but damnit, I want a choice of buying a safety feature or not.
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Lauren Madar
www.ophidiagems.com
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